Game



Dec. 5, 1961 c. PEARsoN, JR., ETAL 3,011,783

GAME

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 2, 1957 s a i5; f;

Dec. 5, 1961 c. PEARsoN, JR., ETAL 3,011,783

GAME

Filed Deo. 2, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 /g n 'J 36p 3 A? gs: *2 l" 54 l 27"" ,f *7 28; 3Q i hl l l '-/135 EL3 Lf f//Al Dec. 5v, 1961 c. PEARsoN, JR., ETAL 3,011,783

GAME

Filed Dec. 2, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ENT OR.

United States Patent Oiice 3,911,783 Patented Dec. 5, 1961 3,011,783 GAIME Charles Pearson, Jr., Elmhurst, and Henry Stan, Chicago, iii., assigncrs to Marvin Glass, Chicago, Ill. Filed Dec. 2, 1957, Ser. No. 700,086 4 Claims. (Cl. 273-1) This invention relates generally to a game involving skill and dexterity and, more particularly, to a game by which each of two individuals can compare his ability to draw a toy gun from its holster, aim at the other individual, and lire the gun.

Ever since the Wild West days children have made believe that they were cowboys. Our modern-day television and movies depict cowboy heroes as being faster on the draw than their opponents. Children imitate their heroes by wearing cowboy outiits with toy guns and holsters. When two young cowboys meet they often test their skill with their guns by seeing who can draw with the greatest speed. It is always a question as to who is the rst to draw and tire his gun unless a neutral third person is present. Even if a third person can determine who is the first to draw, it is dicult for him to ascertain if either of the opponents draws too soon or fires before his gun is level.

As can be seen from the above, a method by which two young cowboys can determine who is the fastest to draw and re his gun is desirable. Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a game by which two individuals can compare their ability to draw guns. Another object is to provide a game by which an individual can compare his skill and dexterity against that of an opponent. Other objects of this invention are: to provide a visual indicating device for comparing one individuals time to re a gun after a predetermined signal to that of another; and to provide a draw game of the type described which is simple in construction and economical to manufacture.

Further objects of the present invention will be apparent hom a study of the following description and accompanying drawings.

In the drawings: Y

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention showing two cowboys ready to draw their guns from their holsters and electrical connections from each of the guns to an indicating device;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged top elevational view of the indicating device shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the indicating device taken along the section line 3-3 of FIG- URE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged side elevational view of the toy `gun shown in FIGURE 1 with part being cut away to show the switching arrangement;

FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of the starting lever and battery housing shown in FIGURE 3; Y

FIGURE 6 is a top plan view of the electrical solenoids and switching arrangement shown in FIG- URE 3;

FIGURE 7 is a yfront sectional view of the armature and the locking means taken along section line 7 7 of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a front sectional view of the indicating device taken along section 8-8 of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 9 is a schematic drawing of the'electrical circuit of the indicating device shown in FIGURE 3 and the gun shown in FIGURE 4.

A game in accordance with the present invention includes a pair of toy guns 11, and an indicating device 12. The indicating device 12 signies which of the toy guns 11 is the first to iire in a horizontal position after a predetermined signal. This is accomplished electrically by having a circuit within the indicating device completed by closing a connecting circuit in either of the guns 11. The indicating device 12 is so arranged that it registers only the rst gun 11 to tire.

Any toy pistol or rifle can be used as the toy gun 11. FiGURE 4 shows a commercially available metal cap pistol adapted in conformance with the invention. The circuit within the gun 11 should be arranged so as to be completed when the gun is fired but only if the gun 11 is horizontal. This can be accomplished in many different ways. FIGURES 4 and 9 show one possible way in which this circuit may be arranged.

Each of the guns 11 has a mercury or level switch 16, a tiring contact switch 15, and a female plug 17, integrally mounted in its grip 14. Female plug 17 is mounted at the base of gun 11 so that even though a male plug 18 is inserted there will be no interference with the hand enclosing the grip 14 of the gun 11. One contact of the mercury switch 16 is connected through a flexible wire 29 to one contact in the female plug 17, and the other contact of the mercury switch is connected to the metal of the gun 11 itself. The mercury switch 16 is oriented so that it will not allow the circuit therethrough to be completed unless the barrel 21 of the gun is horizontal. When the gun 11 is in the holster (shown by dotted line in FIGURE 4) the mercury switch 16 is open. But when the barrel21 of the gun 11 is moved -to a horizontal position the mercury switch 16 wil-l close.

The other contact of the female plug 17 is connected to one arm 22 of the firing switch 15. This arm 22 eX- tends to a point near a hammer lever 24 which functions as the other arm of the firing switch 15. The hammer lever 24 is integrally connected to the hammer 25 of the gun 11 and pulling the trigger 26 moves the hammer 25 in the usual manner back and moves the hammer lever 24 towards the arm 22 of the firing switch 15. Momentary contact will be made when the hammer 25 is near the end of its backward movement. Since the gun mechanism is formed of metal or other conductive material, there will be a momentary completed circuit in the gun 11 when the gun 11 is horizontal and the trigger 26 is pulled. It should be understood that other types of ring contacts could be substituted for that specifically illustrated and described.

The indicating device 12 will signify which gun 11 is the rst to complete its firing circuit. In order to do this the circuit arrangement in the indicating device is constructed so that there are two interconnected indicating circuits and only the first firing circuit to close will operate its associated indicating circuit.

Each of the guns 11 has an associated indicating circuit in the indicating device 12 including the male plug 18, a two wire cable 19, a metal core solenoid 28, an indicating contact 30, and an indicating light 31. The male plug 18 which is attached to the end of the cable 19 is plugged into the female plug 17 in the gun 11.

One of the wires in each of the cables 19 of the indicating device is connected to the negative side of two batteries 27 connected in series. These batteries 27 may be commercially available one and one-half volt dry cells. The other wire in each cable 19 is connected through its associated solenoid 28 to the positive side of the batteries 27. These solenoids 28, one in each indicating circuit, are mounted opposing each other, as shown in FIGURE 6. Disposed between the solenoids 28 is a metal reed type armature 29. The armature 29 will be pulled towards whichever solenoid 28 is energized first by the completion of the circuit in its associated gun 11.

When the armature is moved towards one of the solenoids 28 a circuit will be completed through the armature 29, which is connected electrically to the positive side of the batteries 27, one of the indicating contacts 30, and the indicating light 31 which is connected to the negative side of the batteries 27. Thus, one of the lights 31 will be lit bythe pulling of the trigger 26 in a horizontal gun 11 associated with that light 31. VThe batteries 27 can be reversed in polarity without atecting the circuit.

In order that only one of the indicating lights 31, which are generally incandescent light bulbs, will light for each complete sequence of drawing and tiring, avmechanical locking spring 32, shown in FIGURES 6 and 7, is provided which allows the armature to move in only one direction. This locking spring 32 is a leaf spring and is mounted so that it is in line with and initally held in horizontal position under tension by the armature 29. As soon as the armature is moved ot center by the attraction of either solenoid 28, the spring 32`will move upward (shown dotted in FIGURE 7) and prevent the armature 29 from returning until the spring 32 is reset. The spring 32 is reset by depressing a starting lever 33, which is a cantilever, pivoted on a housing 4i) for the batteries 27. Attached to one side of the starting lever 33,V near the pivot is the vertical reset arm 34 which is used for resetting the locking spring 32. When the starting lever 33 is depressed the reset arm 34 pushes the locking spring 32 down so as to allow the armature Z9 to return to its original position midway between the deenergized solenoids 28.

A signaling device 37 is furnished in the indicating device 12 to signal the start of the contest. So that the game does not require more than the two contestants, a time delay device 3S is placed on 'the signal. This allows the' contestant who depresses the starting lever 33 to attain his draw stance before the signal to draw is sounded.

Attached to the starting lever 33 is the Vtime delay device 35 which is generally a suction cup. Suction cups under spring tension have the property that when depressed on a at surface they will adhere for a short time. A leatf spring clapper 35 is attached by one end to the upper surface of the starting lever 33. When the time delay device 35 releases, the starting lever 33 will return to its initial position. Inertia will cause the clapper 36 to travel through its original position and strike the signaling device 37, which is generally a bell.

indicating device 12 can have any exterior design desired. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, a molded exterior is made in the shape of the skull of a steer often found in the VWestern plains. Each of the eyes 38 is one of the indicating lights 31, as shown in FIGURE 3. Mounted on a plastic base 39 of the indicating device 12 are the batteries 27, solenoids 28, armature 29, and the locking lever 32 as shown in FIGURE 6. The battery enclosure 40 of plastic, shown in FIG- URE 5, is mounted through slots in the base 39. Attached to the top of the battery enclosure 40 is the starting lever 33. For mounting the indicating vlights a plastic socket arrangement 41 is snapped into place on top of the battery enclosure 40.

From the above, it is apparent that a device to determine the outcome of a competitive duel is furnished. One of two competitors who have their guns by their side depresses the starting lever, assumes a preferred stance, and, upon the sounding of a signal, the competitors draw their guns and tire as soon as their guns are horizontal. The indicating device will determine which of the guns tires iirst after reaching the horizontal position.

While one specific embodiment of the game is described, it will be apparent that other arrangements of components may be employed.

Various of the features of the invention believed to be new are set forth in the accompanying claims.

We claim:

1. A game for comparing the speed with which several contestants can draw and tire a toy gun, said game comprising, in combination, a pair of guns, each of said guns including a barrel and a trigger and being normally supported with its barrel in a generally vertical plane, each of said guns having an electrical circuit therein which includes two switches which are normally both open but which must both be closed to complete said circuit, one of the switches in each circuit being Aclosed when the barrel of the gun is raised to a generally horizontal plane, the second Vswitch in each circuit being closed when the gun is fired by actuating said trigger, each of said electrical circuits being operable simultaneouslsy and independently, whereby when a gun is pointed in the horizontal direction and fired its circuit will be completed, an indicating device electrically connected to the circuits in said guns so as to be actuated when either of said circuits is completed, and locking means which is in said indicating device and which is actuated when said indicating device is actuated by the circuit which is completed first to .prevent the other electrical circuit from actuating said indicating device until said locking means is released.

2. A game for comparing the speed with which several contestants can draw and tire a toy gun, said game cornprising, in combination, a pair of guns, each of said guns including :a barrel and a trigger and being normally supported with said barrel in a generally vertical piane, each of said guns having a electrical circuit therein, each of said circuits including two switches which are connected in series so as to require both to be closed to complete said circuit, one of said switches in each of said circuits being open when said barrel is in its normally vertical plane and being closed when said barrel is raised to a generally horizontal plane, the second of said switches in each of said circuits being normally open and being closed when said trigger isy actuated, each of said electrical circuitsbeing operable simultaneously and independently, an indicating device electrically connected to the said electrical circuits in said guus so as to be actuated when either of said circuits is completed, and locking means which is in said indicating device and which is actuated when said indicating device is actuated by the circuit which is completed iirst to prevent the other electrical circuit from actuating said indicating device unt-il the looking means is released;

3. A game for comparing the speed with which several contestants can draw and tire a toy gun, said game Lcornprising, in combination, arpair of guns, each of said guns including a barrel and a trigger and being normally supported with said barrel in a generally vertical plane, each of said guns having an electrical gun circuit therein, said gun circuit including two switches which are connected in series so `as to require both to be closed to complete said gun circuit, one of said switches in each of said gun circuits being open when said barrel is in its normally vertical plane and being closed Iwhen said barrel is raised to a generally horizontal plane such as that in which a gun is normally tired, the second of said switches in each of said gun circuits being normally open and being closed when said trigger is actuated, each of said gun circuits being operable simultaneously and independently, an indicating device electrically connected to the guns, said indicating device having a separate indicating circuit associated with each gun, each of said indicating circuits being actuated when the gun circuit of its associated gun is completed, locking means in said indicating device which is actuated when the indicating circuit associated with the gun circuit to be completed first is actuated by that gun circuit, said locking means being actuated so as to prevent the other gun circuit from actuating its associated indicating circuit until the locking means is released.

4. A gaine for comparing the speed with which several contestants can draw and tire a toy gun, said game cornprising, in combination, a pair of guns, each of said guns including a barrel and a trigger and being normally supported with said barrel in Ia generally vertical plane, each of said guns having an electrical gun circuit therein, said gun circuit including two switches which are connected in series so as to require both to be closed to complete said gun circuit, one of said switches in each of said gun circuits being open when said barrel is in its normally vertical plane and being closed when said barrel is raised to a generally horizontal plane such as that in which a gun is normally fired, the second of said switches in each of said gun circuits being normally open and being closed when said trigger is actuated, each of said gun circuits being operable simultaneously and independently, an indicating device connected electrically to the guns, said indicating device having a separate in- 15 dicating circuit associated with each gun, each of said indicating circuits having a solenoid and a power source which are connected in series to the gun circuit in the associated gun, an armature operable by said solenoid, an indicating contact closed by said armature which is in series with an indicating light and the power source, and locking means in said indicating device to prevent the second gun which tires in the horizontal position from operating its associated indicating circuit until the locking means is reset.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,857,629 Epstein et al May l0, 1932 2,710,754 Varney June 14, 1955 2,834,597 Ylinen May 13, 1958 

